Vehicle-wheel.



No.. 658,338. Patented Sept. 25, I900; J. N. BYEBS. VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1899.]

- 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Sept. 25, I900.

J N. BYERS. VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1899.\

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

was wumus pzrzas ca. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASNKNGYOM n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH N. BYERS, 'OF URBANA, OHIO.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

srEoI'F'IoAmoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,338, datedspt'emter 25, 1906.

Application filed August 7, 1899. Serial No. 726,391. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH'N. BYERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Urbana, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements invehicle-wheels.

The general objects of this invention have reference, first, to animproved fell y construction by which a rubber tire, such as commonlyemployed, may be held from moving laterally, such holding means beingbrought into holding position after the rubber tire is in place; second,to an improved stifiening arrangement for the felly, which also acts tosupport a rubber tire, and, third, an improved hub constructionwherebythe hub may be cast in parts and be-composed of a pair of outer sleevesand an interior hub and means for securing said sleeves together.

My invention also relates to details of construction and arrangementhereinafter appearing and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicatecorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side view of myimproved wheel with aportion of the spokes removed; Fig. 2, an edge view of the same withparts in section; Fig. 3, a similar view to Fig. l, but showing theopposite side of the wheel; Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig. 2 and showingthe hub complete; Fig. 5, a sectional view of the rubber tire, showingmy improved felly construction, also in section, with thestiffening-piece in the form of a 'T; Fig. 6, a similar view to Fig. 5,but showing another form of stiffening device; Fig. 7, another similarview to Fig. 5 and also showing still another form of stiffening device;Fig. 8, a sectional View of the tire-holder forming the felly, showinganother form of stilfening device; and Fig. 9 asimilar view to Fig. 5,showing one manner of connecting the spokes to the felly.

I will first describe the preferred form of my invention as illustratedin Figs. 1 m5 and 9.

The letterA represents an improved holder for retaining a rubber tire,such as shown at B, against lateral displacement, it being understoodthat such tire is held in place circumferentially by means ofretaining-wires C in the form of annular bands or in any other suitablemanner. The holding device preferably constitutes the felly of thewheel, within which is placed a stiifening-piece D, suchstiffening-piece constituting a seat for the rubber tire B. In somecases the stifiening-piece extends downward within the holding device,as exhibited in Figs. 2 and 4: to 9, inclusive, whilein other instancesit is in the form of a plain band, as shown in Fig. 8 at E. In orderthat the stifiening device and the holding device may be united, Iprovide rivets F, which are arranged at intervals around the felly. Theupper portion of the holding device, as shown at G, is intended toproject out straight from the stifiening-piece D, so that the-rubbertire may be readily placed upon the stiffeningpiece, where it is firmlysecured by means of the bands 0, above described, or in any othersuitable manner. After the tire is in position the portions Gare turnedover against the rubber by passing it through a suitable machine forthis purpose. In this manner the rubber tire is held firmly in positionlaterally, while the rubber bands hold it in position circumferentially.

In some instances it may be found advantageous to form thestiffening-piece of two portions, as shown at J in Fig. 7, while inother instances it may be desirable to con? struct suchstifiieningt-piece of three portions, as shown at K and L in Fig. 6. InFig. 6 a similar holding device to that shown inFig. 5 is employed,while the band L is similar to the stiffening device shown in Fig. 8;but beneath such stiifening-band a pair of annular plates, as shown atK, are placed, such plates being firmly held together by means of rivetsM or in any other suitable manner. As exhibited in Fig. 8, I haveemployed a similar holding device, which constitutes a felly, and haveemployed the stiffening-band. This construction may be employed forlighter vehicles, such as wagons for children, tricycles, &c. In someinstances the spokes of the wheel may be attached direct to the holdingdevice or extend into the stiffening member, as desired.

Referring now to my improved hub conlOO It will be observed that the hubO is bored I out, as shown at W, to receive a shoulder X on the axle Y,while the outer sleeve R is en larged at its outer end, as shown at Z,to receive a shoulder a, also projecting from the axle Y. The outer endof the hub 0 does not extend to the outer end of the hub-sleeve S, sothat the nut 13 may be screwed onto the axle and be protectedby suchcasing. In order to oil the axle, I provide an annular receptacle 0within the hub O, to which is connected an oil-passage (1. Thus when itbecomes necessary to oil the wheel all that is necessary to do is toremove the screwplng e or other suitable device from the passage 61,when the oil may readily be inserted.

My invention may be manufactured cheaply,

yet at the same time possesses great strength and durability.

It will be observed that the spokes fare connected to flanges g,extending about the respective hub-casings R and S; but this is an oldarrangement and I do not wish to lay any claim thereto.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a vehicle-wheel, of a holding device forming thetelly thereof consisting of a metal strip bent along a central line overon itself and forming a recess between such bent-over portions or sides,said sides being bent outward and upward near their outer edges, astifiening device adapted to fit upon said bent-outward portions andbetween said bent-upward portions, all substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination with a vehicle-wheel, of a holding device consistingof an annular strip. of metal bent along a central line over on itself,said bent-over portions constituting sides having a space between them,said sides extending outward in a substantially-horizontal plane andupward in a vertical plane, a stiffening device adapted to rest on saidhorizontal portions of said sides and extend within the pocket or recessbetween said sides,

the outer extensions of said sides projecting beyond said stifieningdevice, substantially as shown and described. a

3. The combination with a vehicle-wheel, of an inner hub having aninternal annular groove or receptacle therein with an oil-passageleading into said groove and an external annular flange, of a pair ofsleeves each having an annular flange adapted to fit upon said inner huband against the hub-flange, and means for connecting the spokes of thewheel to said hub-sleeves midway their length, substantially as shownand described.

4. In a vehicle-wheel, a holding device constituting a felly, one ormore stilfening devices consisting of a piece of metal having a flangedportion and a radially-extending po1- tion adapted to fit within saidholding device and below the outer periphery of said holding device,substantially as shown and described.

5. In a vehicle-wheel, a holding device constituting a felly, a pair ofstiffening devices formed of an glc-iron adapted to fit within saidholding device and below its outer periphery, two of the correspondingsides of said angleirons fitting back to back and the other twocorresponding sides extending in the opposite direction from each otherat substantially right angles to the radii of the wheel, and means toextend in through the inner portion of said holding device and alsothrough said matching portions of said angleirons, said angle-irons,constituting said stiffening feature and also acting to form a seat foran elastic tire, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH N. 'BYERS.

Witnesses:

B. B. ESTERLINE, W. M. MONAIR.

